Basketball Sayings

Here is a collection of quotable quotes about basketball. If you know a basketball saying or quote, share it with us by commenting below.

To win, you've got to put the ball in the macramé.
Terry McGuire

On a player passing up an open shot: "You miss 100% of the shots that you don't take.
Joe Ledbetter

This is the second most exciting indoor sport, and the other one shouldn't have spectators.
Dick Vertlieb (sports executive)

Sometimes a player's greatest challenge is coming to grips with his role on the team.
Scottie Pippen (basketball player)

Basketball is like war in that offensive weapons are developed first, and it always takes a while for the defense to catch up.
Red Auerbach (basketball coach)

Great defense consists of 3 R's: read, react, and rotate.
P. Carr

We're shooting 100 percent - 60 percent from the field and 40 percent from the free-throw line.
Norm Stewart (college basketball coach)

It is most difficult, in my mind, to separate any success, whether it be in your profession, your family, or as in my case, in basketball, from religion.
John Wooden (player/coach)

The secret is to have eight great players and four others who will cheer like crazy.
Jerry Tarkanian

Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.
Tim Duncan (player)

For example, Michael Jordan earns $100million a year but continues to play basketball and remains a modest human being.
Franz Beckenbauer

Push yourself again and again. Don't give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.
Larry Bird

I always dreamt of being a basketball player. A dream that only I believed in.
David Duchovny

What excites me the most is when a coach calls a timeout and chews out his forward because I just dunked on his head.
Karl Malone

Basketball was not my main sport in grade school, or even the first year of high school.
Mike Krzyzewski

You never make any of the shots you never take. 87% of the ones you do take, you’ll miss too. I make 110% of my shots.
Larry Bird

Talent wins games, but team work and intelligence wins championships.
Michael Jordan

Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.
Michael Jordan

You don't play against opponents, you play against the game of basketball.
Bobby Knight

Michael, if you can’t pass, you can’t play.
Coach Dean Smith to Michael Jordan

Basketball is like photography, if you don't focus, all you have is the negative.
Dan Frisby

I'm tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok.
Shaquille O'Neal (player)

There are really only two plays: Romeo and Juliet, and put the darn ball in the basket.
Abe Lemons (coach)

Any American boy can be a basketball star if he grows up, up, up.
Bill Vaughn

Even when I'm old and gray, I won't be able to play it, but I'll still love the game.
Michael Jordan

To read more quotes on a variety of topics visit inspirational quotes.